yarmuth: when it comes to the fiscal cliff, republicans and democrats have one major thing in common, we both believe tax rates shouldn't go up for 98% of americans and 97% of small businesses. the difference is the democrats won't use them as bargaining chips. we have filed a discharge petition to bring to the floor legislation that preserves tax cuts for 98% of americans and 97% of small businesses. it has already passed the senate. the president has said he will sign it immediately. less than a month away the clock is ticking, and if house republican leadership is wondering when in our pressing schedule we might fully consider 24 legislation, they might rethink their astonishing decision to cancel house business on thursday, one of the few days congress has left in the current session. mr. speaker, we know what we must do and it might come as a surprise we agree on a solution. all that's left is to vote. i urge my colleagues to sign the discharge petition and vote immediately to keep middle class tax rates from going up. i yield back. soy much -- the speaker pro tempore: the gentle